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Questions about Newsweek

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When did Newsweek launch and who were the original founders?

Newsweek launched on the 17th of February 1933 with financial backing from Thomas J. C. Martyn, Ward Cheney, John Hay Whitney, and Paul Mellon. Samuel T. Williamson served as the first editor-in-chief during these early days.

What major legal challenge forced Newsweek to hire female reporters for the first time?

In 1970, Eleanor Holmes Norton represented sixty female employees who filed a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that Newsweek allowed only men to be reporters. The women won the suit with support from the American Civil Liberties Union, forcing the magazine to hire female reporters for the first time.

Why did Newsweek cease print publication in 2012 after 80 years?

Print publication ceased at the end of 2012 due to declining advertising and subscription revenues alongside rising production costs. The magazine had refocused content on opinion and commentary beginning with its the 24th of May 2009 issue after subscriber numbers dropped significantly within two years.

Who acquired Newsweek in 2013 and when was it relaunched as a print edition?

IBT Media acquired Newsweek from IAC on the 3rd of August 2013, obtaining the brand and online publication without The Daily Beast. IBT Media rebranded itself as Newsweek Media Group and relaunched print editions on the 7th of March 2014 with a cover story about Bitcoin.

What controversial cover stories involving Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann appeared in Newsweek history?

On the 23rd of November 2009, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin appeared on the cover wearing athletic attire with the caption How do you solve a problem Like Sarah? In August 2011, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann appeared on the cover labeled the Queen of Rage with wide-eyed expressions that some said made her look crazy.

When did Newsweek stop using fact-checkers and what major reporting errors followed this decision?

Unlike most large American magazines, Newsweek stopped using fact-checkers in 1996 leading to numerous reporting failures over decades. Notable errors included recalling hundreds of thousands of copies of Your Child special issue advising parents infants could safely eat zwieback toasts and raw carrots starting at five months old in 1997 and incorrectly reporting Iran ordered execution of over 15,000 protesters during Mahsa Amini protests in November 2022.